title: Results of a Phase II trial of gemcitabine, mitoxantrone, and rituximab in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gemcitabine (G) has shown activity in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) as a single agent. The combination of mitoxantrone (M) and rituximab (R) is also active in MCL. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of G+M+R in relapsed or refractory MCL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients were enrolled between April 2005 and January 2007, 88% had Stage IV MCL, Median patient age was 74 years. Patients received gemcitabine 900 mg/m(2) IV (30-60 min infusion) on Days 1 and 8, mitoxantrone 10 mg/m(2) IV (5-10 min infusion) on day 1, and rituximab 375 mg/m(2) IV on Day 1 (max 400 mg/hour) of the 21-day cycle. Patients received a median of 6 cycles (range, 1-8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Best responses were CR 20% (95%CI, 0, 40.2), PR 27% (95%CI, 4.3, 49.1), SD 40% (95%CI, 15.2, 64.8), and PD 13% (95%CI, 0, 30.5). Median survival and PFS have not been reached with a median follow-up of 10.7 months. The most common Grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (100%), thrombocytopenia (67%), leukopenia (53%), and anemia (33%). The study was closed early due to slow accrual owing to an alternative treatment which became available at the time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of G+M+R in MCL was well-tolerated with manageable toxicity using growth factors to minimize neutropenia; further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: US Oncology Research, Inc., Houston, TX, USA. Lawrence.Garbo@usoncology.com
authors.forename: Lawrence E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Garbo
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: MacRae
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kathryn S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kolibaba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069283:Rituximab; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D000093542:Gemcitabine